Canadiens Make a Goaltending Shift: Dobes Steps Up, Raymond Steps Out
The Montreal Canadiens made a bold move this week, parting ways with goaltending coach Eric Raymond and promoting Marco Marciano from the AHL’s Laval Rocket-at least for now. It’s a decision that speaks volumes about where this team is headed, and more importantly, where it refuses to go again.
Raymond joined the Canadiens just after their magical run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. But instead of stepping into a contender’s crease, he inherited a team trying to find its footing in the wake of losing two franchise cornerstones: Carey Price and Shea Weber.
Price played just five games that season, marking the end of his legendary career, and Weber unofficially retired. Expectations were low, and the results reflected it.
Montembeault’s Rise-and Fall
That 2021-22 season was the beginning of a new era in net. With Price out, the Canadiens leaned on Jake Allen and a waiver-wire pickup in Sam Montembeault.
Allen, the veteran, posted a 9-20-4 record with a 3.30 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. Montembeault, who had only 25 NHL games under his belt at the time and was seen largely as a third-stringer with upside, actually ended up leading the team in appearances with 38.
His numbers-8-18-6, 3.77 GAA, and a .891 SV%-weren’t much better, but they did hint at potential.
Fast forward to this season, and Montembeault’s current .868 save percentage has become a glaring issue. For context, if he were performing closer to that .891 mark from his early days, we’d be talking about 12 fewer goals allowed.
That’s not a small number. That’s the difference between wins and losses, between playing against Colorado as the clear No. 1 and sitting on the bench wondering what went wrong.
Montembeault’s last outing-a 4-3 loss to the Bruins-was a tipping point. Two late goals sunk the Habs, and it was clear a change was needed. Enter Jakub Dobes.
Dobes Seizes the Net
Dobes got the start against the Vegas Golden Knights and delivered another win, pushing his record to 6-0-1 in his last seven games. That’s the kind of streak that demands attention, even if his overall .890 save percentage doesn’t leap off the page.
Sometimes, it’s not just about stats-it’s about timing, confidence, and results. Right now, Dobes is delivering all three.
The Canadiens are no longer in a developmental holding pattern. After a surprise playoff appearance last year, this team has real aspirations in 2025-26.
And with expectations rising, they simply can’t afford to wait on Montembeault to find his game again. His -7.9 goals saved above expected (80th in the league, per MoneyPuck.com) is a far cry from the version of Montembeault that backstopped Team Canada to gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championship and earned a spot on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster earlier this season.
Yes, there were flashes. When Montembeault returned from a conditioning stint in the AHL last month and reunited briefly with Marciano, he posted a 3-0-1 stretch with a .917 save percentage.
That included a win over Ottawa where he gave up five goals on 34 shots, but the team bailed him out with a furious comeback. That win got him another start, even after Dobes had won the previous game.
But back-to-back losses to Buffalo and Boston sealed his fate-for now.
A Coaching Change Signals a Shift in Standards
This isn’t just about Montembeault. The Canadiens’ goaltending as a whole has been underwhelming, and the decision to move on from Raymond reflects that.
The defense is doing its job-limiting opponents to just 27.0 shots per game, ninth-best in the league. Offensively, they’re near the top.
The weak link? Netminding.
And the front office isn’t waiting around for things to fix themselves.
It’s not the first time the Canadiens have made a midseason change behind the scenes. Back in 2021, they replaced goaltending coach Stephane Waite with Sean Burke.
At the time, Carey Price had a .893 save percentage. He rebounded to .901 by season’s end and then went on a playoff tear that nearly earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Raymond came in shortly after that run. Now, the team is hoping for another spark-this time from Marciano and a young goalie hungry to prove himself.
Looking Ahead: Dobes’ Net to Lose
Until the Olympic break, this is Dobes’ net. He’s earned it, and the team needs him to run with it.
The next back-to-back set doesn’t come until March 6-7, when the Canadiens head west to face the Ducks and Kings. That gives Dobes a long runway to show he can handle the starter’s load.
Could Montembeault bounce back? Sure.
We’ve seen what he’s capable of when he’s on his game. But right now, the Canadiens can’t afford to wait.
They’re 29-17-7 and trending upward. “Good enough” between the pipes won’t cut it anymore.
And while it’s unfortunate that Raymond’s departure was the cost of that realization, the message is clear: this team expects more.
Montreal is pushing for something bigger this season. And to get there, they need stability in net. For now, Jakub Dobes is giving them just that.